|
1-10 of 13 messages
|
Page 1 of 2
Next
|
|
Respiratory Infection Treatment
|
Reply
|
|
by TheFifthDay on December 9, 2008
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
I have a Boa constrictor that got a resperatory infection. I have been keeping it warm since the day I discovered the symptoms. He got a lot better in a week, and then he stopped gettting any better. He was wheezing a little bit and opening his mouth quite a bit. He had tiny bubbles in his mouth.
Now he kind of hisses every once in a while and he has much less "foam" in his mouth.
Is it time for medication, or should I just keep him warm longer?
If it is time for medication, what is the medicine called that I should give him, and how do I give it to him? I am reading in this book, Reptile Diseases by Rolf Hackbarth, that for colds you can use Kamillosan. Is this a good medicine for the symptoms I am decribing?
Sorry for my being inexperienced with reptile medication.. I'm trying to learn.
Thanks,
Jon Short
|
| |
|
RE: Respiratory Infection Treatment
|
Reply
|
|
by ssshane on December 9, 2008
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
|
I forgot to ask. When you say you started keeping it warm since you discovered the issue, what were you doing before that? Also, how long have you had the boa? Just gathering more info as to better offer help. I am going to guess that most will suggest the vet visit. Do you know whether or not you have a good reptile vet local?
|
| |
|
RE: Respiratory Infection Treatment
|
Reply
|
|
by theemojohnm on December 9, 2008
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
Jon, email me and we will discuss certain measures you can take now (such as placing the snake on paper-towel, in a bin, etc, and limiting it's contact with the rest of your collection) until (if) a vet can be reached. I just need to know some specifics.
I will post here tomarrow, as I have dealt with this a several times before, and like to have information avaliable for folks in the future, who might have similar problems. It is just good info to have here in the archives of previous posts.
There is probably no good substitute for a vet, but if that is in impossibility, then contact me and we'll discuss this. It sounds like it is fairly "far-along" and something has to be done....and, the sooner the better.
Take Care,
~John Mendrola.
|
| |
|
RE: Respiratory Infection Treatment
|
Reply
|
|
by TheFifthDay on December 10, 2008
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
To answer Shane's question, I was keeping it at around 82-85F during the day and letting the temps drop to about 75F at night.
I have had the boa since September 16, 2008, so I've had it for a week shy of 3 months.
I don't want to sound un-observent, but I remember when I got it he was "hissing" some, but he had no foam in the mouth and he never opened his mouth (except for feeding times).
I hope this helps,
Jon Short
|
| |
|
RE: Respiratory Infection Treatment
|
Reply
|
|
by Cro on December 10, 2008
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
Jon, as others have stated, it would be best if you can get the boa to a veternarian as soon as possible.
If that is not possible, you need to increase the temperature and humidity of the cage. I would not let the night time temperature fall below 81 or 82 degrees F, and would take the day time temperatures up to as high as 87 or 88, and provide a basking spot that is even warmer than that. Keep the humidity up in the cage. This will help keep the snake hydrated. Provide plenty of fresh water.
Most, but not all, respiratory infections & pnomonia in snakes are caused by bacterial infections, although they can be viral or even parasitic in nature.
As far as Antibiotics that you could get from a Vet or online Vet Supply, the most common that are used are:
Enrofloxacin (Batril), which is given at 10 mg/kg by injection intramuscularly every 24 hours for 10 to 14 treatments. You should use a thin guage needle about a half inch long enough to get into the muscle, as it can cause necrosis if it is given subcutaneously. Also, in addition, the Batril can be diluted at a rate of 50 mg/250 ml sterile water or saline, and used as a nasal / mouth wash. Each nastril is flushed with 1 to 3 ml every 24 to 48 hours. This product is also available as ear drops and pills for dogs and cats, but that is not what you want. You will need the injectable form, from a vet supply.
The other is:
Tylocin, which is given at a dosage of 5 mg/kg intramuscularly every 24 hours for 10 to 60 days.
You need to work on this quickly, as once the infection has become pnomonia, it does not take long to kill a snake. You might also want to call other reptile keepers in your area and see if any of them might have these products on hand.
Hope this helps.
Best Regards
John Z
|
| |
|
RE: Respiratory Infection Treatment
|
Reply
|
|
by Cro on December 10, 2008
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
Jon, you can get the TYLAN 50 without a vet's prescription, and at a very good price, at:
http://www.calvetsupply.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=802
I could not find a online source for the Batril that did not require a prescription from a vet. Not only that, the Batril costs about 8 times as much as the Tylan.
I have never used Batril, but have used Tylan 50 with good results on large African pythons with respiritory infections at the early stages. I have also tried in the past to use Tylan 50 on a Blood Python, that had pnomonia, but the Blood Python did not survive. He made a nice skin for the wall though.
Good Luck with your Boa.
Best Regards
John Z
|
| |
|
RE: Respiratory Infection Treatment
|
Reply
|
|
by Rob_Carmichael on December 11, 2008
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
Great advice here - I can't add much more other than we, too, have treated many boas, pythons, etc that have come to us via confiscations who had RI. As John stated:
1) Bump up those temps as he prescribed - and, if you can get some air flow even better (there are small axial fans by Grainger that work great and you'll see dramatic health improvements when they have access to fresh air).
2) Bump up the humidity: It is oftentimes a challenge to bump humidity but at the same time bump up heat and increase good air flow. The fans are great because they are very small and just keep air moving through the cage. We are looking at doing this with all of our exhibits. Humidity can be accomplished in many way.
3) We have used Fortaz with excellent results in treating RI and other bacterial infections. Obviously, my first bit of advice is to have a good vet make a diagnosis. We are all just grasping at straws and making educated guesses based on experiences.
Also, realize that sometimes, RI can be a chronic problem in some snakes....good husbandry can go a long way towards preventing this.
Good luck,
Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center
|
| |
|
RE: Respiratory Infection Treatment
|
Reply
|
|
by theemojohnm on December 11, 2008
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
Well, it looks like John and Rob have been able to answer before me, and have offered some very good advice. I actually wrote up a pretty lengthy email last night, but had computer trouble and lost ALL OF IT.
One thing I did notice though, was that you said you were still using the aspen bedding in your email. It has been my experience that limiting any dust particles in the enclosure (which can be due to aspen and most other substrates too) is very important for the animals recovery. I would remove the animal from the aspen substrate, and use paper-towel, or newspaper.
I have used the Tylocin that John recommended, and I am assuming that it is the same as the TYLAN 50, or TYLAN is a generic version or similar drug. I have also used the Fortaz that Rob has used.
Back when I had a vet in the area that would treat retiles, I had a large Nile monitor treated through him, and he prescribed the Bactril. For some reason, I do not think the monitors diagnosis was an RI though. This was a pretty long time ago.
I always had good results with the Tylocin, although I could never seem to get it without a prescription from the vets. One of the local veterinarians near me will not treat large or “dangerous” reptiles, but if I explain the symptoms to them, will usually prescribe Tylocin so that I can treat the animal at home. As Rob stated though, NONE of us can be absolutely sure if that is the problem.
Most of the animals that I used to treat using the Fortaz and Tylocin have been local “rescue” animals that I simply could not refuse to take in. Last year I had to start “drawing the line“, as I had all kinds of sickly animals coming in and jeopardizing my own collection because of their ailments. And, without a regular vet within reasonable driving distance who will even look at a venomous snake, large constrictor, and large monitor, you just have to guess at it.
The point is, many of the animals that I took in were not being properly cared for and, initially had symptoms of a respiratory infection, that proved to be something else.
There is no substitute for a visit to the vets. Perhaps even if you cannot find a vet who will actually see the animal, you can explain the symptoms and get some advice on how to treat the animals at home. I am not sure how similar that TYLAN 50 and the Tylocin I have used are, but that is a very good price from the link John posted, and if you do not need a prescription, it probably wouldn’t hurt to try.
Best of luck in treating this.
Take Care,
~John Mendrola.
|
| |
|
Email Subscription
You are not subscribed to this topic.
Subscribe!
My Subscriptions
Subscriptions Help
Check our help page for help using
, or send questions, comments, or suggestions to the
Manager.
|
